Keen To Be Green

Fardeen 6-W

Both water and energy are limited resources that must be protected not only for present

usage but for future too! The time has come that we can no longer take these deceivingly

ubiquitous assets for granted. We must address waste and misuse at every opportunity and

begin to change some of our long-held beliefs on how to do all the things we have to do, like

cleaning textiles.

Today, one of the largest concerns around the world is the lack of freshwater for drinking and

cooking. It is estimated that over one billion people, or about one-sixth of the world's

population, does not have access to fresh water; of these one billion, the vast majority are living in developing nations. Although water is one of the most common resources on the planet, only 2.5%

of it can actually be consumed, and the rest is salt water. Of that 2.5%, two-thirds is confined to

glaciers and permanent snow cover. Only a fraction of the world's water is liquid freshwater, and it is increasingly the subject of conflict and

strife as it becomes less available.

Water usage throughout the world and how this impacts

on our environment…

Population Growth

The world's population is growing at a rate of 80 million people

each year. This means that each year we need to find a way to add about 64 billion cubic meters of water to the global water supply.

The two fastest-growing areas are Africa and the Middle East. The

Sub-Saharan African population is growing at a rate of 2.6% people a year, and in the Middle East it is growing at a rate of 2.2%. Africa

is already one of the driest continents in the world, and with

this constant change its are facing water stress and water

scarcity.

Few steps

how to

conserve

water….

 1. Turn the Water Off When Not in Use2. Insulate Water Pipes3. Repair Leaks4. Wash Full Loads5. Wash by Hand6. Adjust Sprinkler heads7. Update Your Landscaping8. Install Water-Saving Appliances9. Throw Unwanted Food Away10.Update Your Landscaping

Protect

 Wash your car on the lawn instead of the driveway. Water that lands on an impermeable surface, such as pavement, flows through the watershed to the nearest body of water and deposits its contaminants. Your lawn, on the other hand, can trap and break down most foreign agents. Limit the use of lawn fertilizers, and be sure to use only phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers. Most lawns already have sufficient phosphorus, and when more is added it runs through the watershed and causes algae growth in surrounding lakes. 

Learn Realize that many human activities affect water quality. Wetlands, groundwater, and waterways are destroyed by construction, polluted runoff, and spills. Population growth only intensifies these impacts. Become an educated consumer. Buy recycled, environmentally friendly products. Learn to recognize and become knowledgeable about aquatic nuisance species. Exotic invaders (such as Eurasian water milfoil, zebra mussels, and thousands more) cause habitat destruction, decrease biological diversity, and cause millions of dollars of damage in the United States each year. 

Change Rethink your daily habits and help reduce water pollution and water use. Bike, walk, or carpool to help reduce the production of toxic air pollutants that cause acid rain. Turn down the water heater temperature and the home thermostat to reduce your energy usage and help curb pollutants that cause acid rain. Finally, share your knowledge with others. Try to remember that our actions have a widespread impact on the lasting quality of freshwater resources. We can and must make a difference.